The best accommodations New York (Manhattan)

Budget & Tips

For a basic double room (i.e. a bed between four walls and a tiny bathroom), you'll need to pay at least US$100 per night. Rates can double in high season, but also from one day to the next, depending on occupancy. To find the best prices, don't hesitate to do a lot of research on the Internet, on the hotel's website and then using comparators such as Booking.com.

For those on a budget, youth hostels offer dormitory rates from US$25 to US$100 per person. A continental breakfast is often included in the price. In the U.S., hostels are widespread, and the best-known chain, HI Hostel(www.hiusa.org), has a presence on New York's Upper West Side. To find independent hostels, visit www.hostels.com and www.hostelworld.com.

Another option, and not the least expensive: bed and breakfasts, often charming and romantic addresses nestled in beautifully restored mansions. Rates range from US$150 to US$300 per night, and a minimum stay of two nights is sometimes required. Breakfast and hot meals are usually included in the price. Here are a few websites to check out: www.bedandbreakfast.com, www.bnbfinder.com and www.selectregistry.com. Cash and credit cards are accepted in all establishments.

Last but not least, wifi is free in most hotels, with the exception of a few luxury establishments that charge a daily supplement. Parking, when available, is not free. Expect to pay between US$60 and US$80 per night.

To be booked

New York is unique in that housing prices are so high that affordable hotels are taken by storm all year round! So don't be surprised if you come across a businessman in a suit in the corridors of your YMCA. The key to getting by without losing too many feathers is to be prepared - and prepared you must be! Book early, up to six months in advance, especially if your stay falls in a very touristy period (from May to September and for the end-of-year holidays).

What's very local

The private-to-private advertising site Airbnb offers some very tempting deals in New York City, but beware, many of them are illegal! New York City has gone on a crusade against the booking platform and, urged on by the powerful hotel lobby, has adopted highly restrictive regulations against it. The law states that it is forbidden to rent an apartment in New York for less than 30 days, unless the owner occupies the apartment during your stay. By deduction, this means that renting a room in a home is legal, but renting an entire apartment is not (except in the case of a stay of a month or more). If you find such an offer on Airbnb, you should know that, as a customer, you risk nothing from a legal point of view. But you do run the risk of the ad being withdrawn by the site just before your arrival, in which case you'll be left holding the bag.

Smokers

Most hotels in New York are 100% smoke-free, which means that smoking is not permitted in rooms or public areas. Small signs in the rooms indicate the price of the fine you'll receive if you disobey, which can range from US$250 to US$500. A few establishments are resisting the ban and still offer smoking rooms, such as some chains like Days Inn and Ramada Hotel.

Tourist traps

Since the vast majority of tourists book their accommodations well in advance of their arrival in New York, scams are pretty rare in this area. If you use the official website of the hotel you're interested in, or a well-known hotel comparison service, you won't risk much!